International conference explores dangers faced by younger generation

Texas A&M University-Kingsville faculty member Dr. Fred T. Ponder, professor of educational leadership and counseling, will join educators from around the world at the University of Oxford in England, for the symposium, “The Next Generation Besieged: Violence, Sex and Substance Abuse” March 28-April 4.

Ponder will join other educators from around the world invited by the Oxford Round Table, a not-for-profit educational and charitable organization that seeks to provide a forum for the discussion of contemporary issues that affect the public good. The Round Table makes a point of inviting educators from public and private institutions across the globe, representing a host of different disciplines and levels of education.

“This symposium is important because it deals with issues facing so many of the upcoming generation,” said Ponder. “These youngsters will become our citizens and leaders of the future and they will be faced, in their developmental years, with the issues of this event. If they cannot face and deal with these issues then many lives might well be diminished, interrupted and even lost.

“The potential for loss due to an inability to come to grips with these possibly destructive issues may have profound and negative effects on the world of tomorrow. This symposium will feature leaders from a worldwide stage to explore the issues and possible solutions for these issues.”

Ponder will be sharing his own related research by presenting his paper, “Selected Beliefs about Alcoholism and other Addictions Held by Recovering Psychologists.”

The research for the paper came from a series of questions constructed by Ponder for psychologists to answer, centered on the paper’s subject.

The survey was made up of 36 entries, asking for answers to questions such as “Do you feel alcoholism is a disease?” “Do you feel addiction is the largest medical problem in America” and “Do you feel all the addictions are essentially similar?” Survey participants answered the questions on a scale of 1-5. Ponder worked with the American Psychological Association to submit the questionnaire to some 120 psychologists, who answered on the condition of anonymity.

According to Ponder, the Oxford Round Table symposium should bring with it a host of benefits.

“I hope to take from this experience an acquaintance with persons from around the globe who may have new and imaginative approaches to solutions to these and other problems,” said Ponder. “This will truly be an international experience with contacts from around the world.”